Canada welcomes CAW-GM cost-saving agreement

CALGARY, Alberta May 22 (Reuters) - Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said on Friday he was glad in principle that the Canadian Auto Workers union had reached a cost-cutting deal with General Motors Corp (GM.N).

"I am hopeful that everybody involved ... has made the difficult decisions necessary to make sure they create a viable company," he told reporters.

The deal was reached with the intense participation of the Canadian and Ontario governments, and federal Industry Minister Tony Clement said separately in a statement it was a further step towards sustainability.

But Clement said he would ensure there was a viable long-term plan involving all stakeholders before committing any additional money. (Reporting by Scott Haggett; writing by Randall Palmer; editing by Rob Wilson)